Topic 2 - Forces And Motion - Vectors And Scalars

Question 1

What is a Vector?

Answer 1

A Vector has magnitude and direction.

Question 2

What is a Scalar?

Answer 2

A Scalar has just magnitude.

Question 3

Can scalars be negative?

Answer 3

Generally, scalars cannot be negative.

Question 4

Can vectors be negative?

Answer 4

Yes, vectors can be negative as a certain direction is positive.

Question 5

Is speed a scalar or a vector?

Answer 5

Speed is a scalar.

Question 6

Is velocity a scalar or a vector?

Answer 6

Velocity is a vector.

Question 7

Is distance a scalar or a vector?

Answer 7

Distance is a scalar.

Question 8

Is displacement a scalar or a vector?

Answer 8

Displacement is a vector.

Question 9

Is time a scalar or a vector?

Answer 9

Time is a scalar.

Question 10

Is acceleration a scalar or a vector?

Answer 10

Acceleration is a vector.

Question 11

Is force a scalar or a vector?

Answer 11

Force is a vector.

Question 12

Is mass a scalar or a vector?

Answer 12

Mass is a scalar.

Question 13

Is momentum a scalar or a vector?

Answer 13

Momentum is a vector.

Question 14

Is energy a scalar or a vector?

Answer 14

Energy is a scalar.

Question 15

What happens to the displacement of a ball thrown off a cliff at the height of the cliff?

Answer 15

The displacement is 0 at the height of the cliff.

Question 16

What is the displacement of a ball above the cliff?

Answer 16

Positive displacement.

Question 17

What is the displacement of a ball below the clifftop?

Answer 17

Negative displacement.

Question 18

In long answer questions, what can you decide regarding the ‘O’ point of a vector?

Answer 18

You may be able to decide where the ‘O’ point of a vector may lie.

Question 19

How can you set zero for displacement in the context of a cliff?

Answer 19

You could set zero to be the bottom of the cliff.

Question 20

What is speed when given a direction called?

Answer 20

Velocity.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: Speed is only velocity when given a direction, so thrown 10 m/s is its speed but thrown ______ at 30° above the horizontal is the velocity.

Answer 21

10 m/s